by Corey Matsumoto

If you can crack the above code you’re much better off than many of us. With a news item so filled with acronyms, it’s no wonder many people are confused with what the heck is going on. Scott Randoph’s presentation at the PRSC Limited Partnership’s public meeting and open house helped to clarify the whole scenario.

In 2003, Norske Canada was approached by the City of Powell River and Sliammon Development Corp (SDC) to purchase waterfront lands near the mill. In 2004, the 3 parties signed a memorandum of understanding. This paved the way for the creation of the PRSC (standing for Powell River, Sliammon, Catalyst) Limited Partnership, collectively owned by the Powell River Waterfront Development Commission (PRWDC -AKA City of Powell River), Tee’skwat Land Holdings (Sliammon), and 0606890 BC Ltd. (Catalyst Paper Corp).
PRSC is managed by PRREDS (Powell River Regional Economic Development Society), headed by Scott Randolph. PRSC bought land parcels totalling about 800 acres from Catalyst. Some of this land is designated as Agricultural Reserve Land (ALR) which means that it must be used for agricultural purposes unless an application to remove the ALR designation is successful. The developer involved in the project was a company named Yrainucep (the word pecuniary, meaning money, spelled backwards), which did little to create public confidence.

Earlier this year, PRSC applied to the Agricultural Land Commisson (ALC) to remove the ALR designation from certain parcels of land in its possession to create a gated community and private jetway. The application was rejected in September. Yrainucep has “withdrawn” from the project, but people still wonder: is PRSC is now positioning itself for another application?

Still confused? Visit: www.prreds.com/prsc.htm for more info on the PRSC Limited Partnership.